Dear Editor: I’m writing to thank the Danvers Patch for supporting the Above The Influence campaign that DanversCARES ran this spring.  The enthusiastic response we have received from the community for the successful campaign has been very gratifying. This program was made possible by special funding provided by a Beverly Hospital Collaborative Community Health Grant as well as significant support by Beverly Hospital at Danvers. We would also like to thank the many businesses that took a leadership role in supporting the Above The Influence campaign, including: Cakes for Occasions, Custom Cup…

Dear Editor, I am writing to you in response to article “Fire Chief Urges Selectmen To Adopt 'Life Saving' Bylaw,” posted on April 12. http://danvers.patch.com/articles/fire-chief-urges-selectmen-to-adopt-life-saving-bylaw I am a member of the Northeast Chapter of the Structural Building Components Association – the trade association representing manufacturers of structural building components such as trusses and wall panels. The Northeast Chapter does business all throughout New England, including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Currently, there is increasing pressure to treat trusses, …

Thanks to all of those who made the Friends of the Library's 2nd Annual Scrabble Tournament a success on April 22nd! Our players had some lively and competitive games, and a few hearty laughs were had by all. Delicious treats were provided by the Friends members.  Appreciation is also extended to our local merchants, who came out in fine style to support the Library: Phil at Trader Joe's, Jennifer Lamontagne at the Green Elephant Toy Store, Alan and family at Hartnett's Car Wash, Dellaria Salons, McKinnon's Market, Curran's Florist, Market Basket, and our official sponsor GateHouse Media - …

To the voters of Danvers: I appreciate your support in the recent election and look forward to serving you for three more years. Please feel free to call me regarding issues of interest or concern at any time. Much gratitude is extended to the many citizens who willingly displayed my signs and handed out flyers. I would like to especially recognize Deb Zorzonello who took the timeto write a letter on my behalf.   The coverage given by DCAT, The Salem News, The Danvers Herald and Danvers Patch was outstanding. Finally I would be remiss if I didn't thank my challengers, Alan Vervaeke, Manny …

Dear Editor -I'm writing to thank Danvers voters for supporting my candidacy for School Committee in the election held on May 1st.  I was very pleased with the response I received from friends, parents with children in the Danvers schools, and even people I didn’t know when I made the decision to run.  It was even more rewarding to see the election results and know that so many people put their trust in me to help make our public schools the best they can be.  I look forward to joining the School Committee and taking an active role in the process of educating the children of Danvers. Thank …

  I want to thank the residents of Danvers for their support in the Town Election. I appreciate every one of the voters who came out on a raw, grey day to vote for the leadership of the town. It was a good campaign with well-intentioned people on all races. I thank Mr. Bettencourt for his involvement and hope he continues his passion for public service. Over the campaign we got to speak on several occasions and he has s strong background. With openings on several committees I hope he can pitch in before his next election bid, if that is his desire. To Mr. Clark, it is always a pleasure, and I…

To the Editor:   The proposed 2013 state budget includes eliminating funding for services that will dramatically impact me and other deafblind citizens here in Massachusetts. As it stands, the funding for the Deaf-Blind Community Access Network (DBCAN), which is part of line item 4110-1000 under the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, is slated to be cut by $450,000.This is incredibly distressing for us, as DBCAN is one of the most important agencies to help prevent isolation for people who are deafblind. DBCAN enables us to operate independently in the community by providing us with …

To the editor: I live in Danvers and I have for over 11 years now.  Does the entitle me to special treatment in this town?  I am a good mother and have always been involved in my kids lives, events, and schooling (Yes, all 4 in Danvers).  Does that make me any more special than any other parent?  I am sorry my family has not had a store in Danvers Square.  I am sorry my Mother has never worked for the town for 20 plus years.  I do not have a farm in my family for the past 100 years, my family has not be associated with the town for over the past 400 years, I was not born here, I did not …

Dear Editor For the last five years I have had the pleasure of working with David Thomson in many capacities. Beyond the fact that David's firm, Thomson Communications, has handled my business communications; we have worked on several charitable events together. David shares my passion to as he says "Doing well by doing good". Plus he has raised much, much more through his other efforts. How then does this translate into a good candidate for School Committee? Through all of our dealings I have watched David as he has met with committee members for various organizations, volunteer groups and …

Hello, My name is Gardner Trask. It has been my distinct pleasure to serve the Danvers community for several decades now in social, civic, and political activities. For the past six years I have represented you as Selectman. I would be honored to continue to serve you and would ask that on May 1st you please cast one of your ballots for me. I would be easy to fill this letter with a long history of personal and professional background as well as my efforts and activities over 30-plus years, but many of you of you already know me. We may have stood on the sidelines together at out children’s …

To The Editor: My name is Alan Vervaeke and I am a candidate for School Committee in Danvers. I wanted to take a moment to let your readers know a bit about me, and about my considerations for the position of School Committee member. I have lived in Danvers since late 2008, when I married the woman of my dreams. We have seven children between us, and my four step-sons (John, Jeff, Jim, and Jason Burke) all went through Danvers Public Schools. The youngest – Jason - is a sophomore at the high school now. While I may not have grown up in Danvers, nor lived in Danvers for decades, my concern for…

Dear Editor - I'm writing to let your readers know that I'm running for School Committee and ask that they vote for me in the election on May 1st.  I was born and raised in Danvers and went through the public school system.  My wife, Sue, and I now have three children of our own who are all attending Danvers Public Schools.  Our oldest daughter, Riley, will be going to Danvers High School in the fall, our daughter, Brynn, will be in middle school and our youngest daughter, Colby, will be in her last year of elementary school.  With three children at three different levels in the school system…

We received this letter from 8-year-old Danvers resident Michaela. If you're having trouble reading the PDF file, use the zoom tools at the bottom of the file for a closer look. To check out the MSPCA website, click here.

To the editor: Danvers is facing a Town election in which we have a contested race for Selectman. Bill Clark and Gardner Trask, the incumbents are facing a challenge by Richard Bettencourt. Running for any elected office is a noble undertaking. Competition is healthy and choice is good, but it appears this new candidate has thrown his hat in the ring with minimal background, no easily definable positions, and no specific agenda. How am I as a voter supposed to make an informed decision?  Where are the debates or position statements? Mr. Bettencourt’s primary qualification seems to be name …

To the editor, I have a question for you. Have you ever driven down Locust Street in Danvers and notice a child walking in the street? I see it every day on my drive home. There is a long stretch of road across from the reservoir with absolutely no sidewalk. Take a drive down there sometime, notice the blind curves, maybe envision the road covered in snow and cars sliding, then picture a 10 year old boy walking there. This is a tremendous oversight by the town of Danvers with consequences that are simply unthinkable. Would you rather write a story about how the town acted immediately to …

Dear Editor:The two recent car crashes on July 21 and September 21,2010,(where cars went off the road and dropped into Frost Fish Brook), highlight the hazardous road conditions at the five way intersection of Conant St., Elliot St.,  and Burley Farm Road.  This is an inherently dangerous intersection for motorists and potentially even more dangerous for pedestrians traveling to/from the Holten-Richmond Middle School & Plains Park.There is a lighted “no turn on red” sign on Elliot St. which was installed by the town as a interim solution. This sign is regularly ignored and /or misunderstood …

To the editor: Providing surveillance at public parks and along the rail trail in order to discourage the few inconsiderate pet owners from improperly disposing of pet feces is cost prohibitive and, more importantly, should not be necessary. The fundamental responsibility of owning a pet is to adequately care for the animal. Not picking-up pet waste exposes all pets, and the public at large, to unsanitary conditions. This is a basic example of uncaring behavior. And if the vast minority of our 2,075 licensed pet owners require a firm but courteous reminder to this fact, please be so advised …

My wife Gayle and I are proud to be serving as Honorary Chairpersons for the Northeast Arc’s Annual Wine Tasting and Auction Friday, March 23rd at Kernwood Country Club in Salem. Our lovely friend Kim Carrigan will join us as hostess and auctioneer as she so generously does each year. The organizers, attendees and supporters of this event truly represent the best of what our region has to offer.  It is a heartwarming and critical campaign that sustains the programs that support people with disabilities in our communities.  Gayle and I are happy to back any effort that helps carry out the …

The Friends of the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers are asking for your support. We are a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to promoting the Library and supporting it in all its activities. In addition to supporting the Library’s educational and  creative programs and its renovation projects, we also sponsor our own programs: the Museum Pass Program, Annual Book Sale, Holiday Open House, a Staff & Volunteer Luncheon, and the recently-added Classical Music Series and Scrabble Tournament. Our foremost goal right now is to strengthen our organization; we need new members and …

As the political season begins, I would like to take this opportunity to review DCAT's policies and procedures as they apply to political programming.  At DCAT, as well as many access centers across the nation, we treat political programming no differently than any other programming that appears on the public access channels. Danvers Community Access Television is a public access center. As such, its responsibility is to help Danvers community members create their own TV programs for local channels Comcast 99/Verizon 36.  Anybody in the Danvers community, including candidates for public …